Strip-feeding mechanism for sewing machines



my 22', 19m.; MM5@ v J. BOSTON l I STRIP FEEDING MEGHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed Sept. 4, v 1918 5 Sheets-Shea?, l

STRIP FEEDING AMECIMN-l'SM FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed .Sep-r. 4, 191

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 uy 22, E924;

J. BOSTON i STRIP FEEDING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed sept. 4, 1918 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 J. BOSTGN STRIP FEEDING MECHANISM FOR SEWING' MACHINES Filed Sept. Il, 1918 STRIP FEEDING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed sep. 4, 1918 5 Shhwf; s ,y

patented diniy 22, i924,

30ml' BOSTON, 0F NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNGR, BY MESNE ASSIGNEENT, 'EG TEDMAS HARDEN CARTER.

STBJIE-FEEDENG MECHMHSM FSR SEWING IMCHNES.

Application filed September To all whom, t lmay concern:

Bs it known that l, JOHN Boeren, a citizen of the United States, and a resident oi Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain and useful improvements in Strip-Feeding Mechanism for Sewing Machines. ot which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to mechanisms for use on sewing machines generally' but Ihave applied the saine to hemstitching machines such as are used for hemstitching the side edges of long strips of fabric which are to be out into short lengths and hems'titched across the ends to form handkerchiefs, and l' will describe my invention as applied to such machines Without intending to limit it to such application.

My invention relates more particularly7 to the application to a sewing machine of the above general type of a feeding means for conveying the strip to be stitched to the machine and subsequently rolling,- the strip.

The object oi my invention is to provide mechanism which may be applied to hemstitching or sewin machines for the purpose of rendering t ein as nearly as possible automatic in their operation. The advantage of this is, that a single operator, with` out special training, may attend to a number or machines.

The invention includes mechanism for winding or reeling up the strip of fabric as it is being stitched, and this is adapted to retain the fabric smooth While it is being stitched and to wind it 'unt er desired tension. rhis branch ot the mechanism is also adapted to permit the operator to draw back the fabric, as for instance after the sewing thread has been broken, in order to restart the stitching at the point Where it may have terminated before the threadhad been broken, in order that the stitching on the finished strip may be continuous.

Another object oi my invention is to provide mechanism for carrying outthe above .and which ma)v be attached to the standard inachincs now Aon the market and Without interfering with their operation and which mechanism shall be simple to manufacture and to operate.

A further object is to provide a simple and practical strip feeding mechanism for sewinc machines w ich maybe inexpensively manu actured and assembled and applied to a, 191s. semi ne. 252,527.

sewing machines now in material alteration.

Other objects will be in part obvious from the annexed drawings and in part indicated from the following analysis of the invention.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of parts, and in the unique relation of the various members and the relative proportioning and dispositioning thereof, all as more clearly outlined herein.

To enable others skilled in the art to fully comprehend the nnderlyinfr features thereof, in order that they may embody the same, by numerous modifications in structure and relation contemplated by this invention, draw ings depicting a preferred forni have been annexed as part oi this disclosure and in such drawings like characte fs of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout all the views, of which` Figure l is a front elevation ci' one of va rions possible embodiments of the invention, certain parts being broken away or removed for the sake of clearness.

Figure 2 is a rearelevation thereof,

Figure 3 is a plan view-With the gate omitted,

Figure l is a view showing the lower parts of the machine in end elevation, and it is taken on the line @-4 or" Fi ure it,

Figure 5 is a sectional View tonen on linee-5 of Figure l,

Figure 6 is a sectional View taken on the line 6-6 of Figure l,

Figure 7 is a detail of'one of the cam me tions,

Fi re 8 is a face View of part of the head of t eV machine and showing the thread testing device,

Figure Q is a sectional View taken on the line 9*-9 of Figure 4,

Figure l0 is an enlarged sectional view or the devicefor controlling the fabric Winding device,

Figure 1l is a associated parts,

Figure '12 is a 'front elevation thereof, and

Figure 13 is a detail view of the rear guide roller.

l have shown a sewing machine lmonnted on a table or bench 2 on which lat-terth'ere may be plan View of the gate and a minibar` of machines monnted in a row or rows so that-the driving eht general use Without t y. is mail i.

iet

be common to a number of machines. The

particiilar machine shown herein'is a wellv known type used for hemstitching the edges of a strip of fabric from which handkerchiefs are to be made and I have shown only f the needle shaft 4 and needle 5, the thread lis . mechanism; .and trom' t ere the thread passes through the take up `arm 7 to the. sew-- tension device 6, tlie take u arm 7 the needle oscillator 1inl;"8,\.the alance wheel 9, pulley 10 and the spool holder 11.l The needle thread 12 leads from the spool through the guides 13 through thetension device 6 then over a pin 14, thenc over a pin 15 carried` byfa .pfrtiof the ta e up which in the presenthcaiset also forms art of the'stop ing needle.

The sewing machine is operated from the main shaft 16 by the belt 17 which travels over the pulley 18 on this shaft and over .the

pulley 10 of the sewine` machine. There is a worm 19 on the main shaft 16 and this operates through the worm gear 2O to turn the shaft 21 and the latter operates through the mitre gears 22'toturn a counter shaft 23 at a much slower speed than the main shaft 16. There is a belt 24 traveling over the pulley on the counter shaft 23 andl over a pulley 24 on a short shaft 26, by means of which, the shaft 26 .is operated from the counter shaft.

Tracing the fabric from the source of supply and throughthe machine, it will be observed that the fabric is carried up from scription of its construction.

below over the guide or gate 27 shown in- Figure 4. The particular gate shown herein forms the subject matter of my prior Patent No. 1,391,876, which vforms no part of the present invention exceptiin so Vfar as it enters into certain combinations.,herein- 'after set forth and to which patent cross ref." erence may be had for a more detailed delt is to be understood that the particular gate shown herein is not necessary to'the use of my present invention as any other form may be used. Theiiabric passes over a rod 28 earried onbhe arm 29, thence in front of a rod' journaled in brackets 38,y L thefabric is bein run through for the first time, i. e. if the rst edge is being stitclied,\then it may be allowed to tall from the roller into a escasas.

pile or into a receptacle placed below the roller'. But if it is being stitched for the second time, i. e., it one edge has been previouslyA stitched and it is being run through for 'the stitching of the second edge,ithen the forward' end is directed from the roller 35 onto the take up or reelingroller 38 Figure 1 below the table. This roller is operated from the short shaft 26 by ascrank pin 39 Figure-9 which projects into one end of the rollerand which serves to turn the roller in ordez'towind thev fabric upon it. The shaft-12,6 has a loose pulleyv 40 and when the belt 24I is engaging lf this pulley the shaft 26 remains idle! There is a pulleyv 25 next to the idle. pulley 40 and this frictonally drives the shftd through a diskV 41 ixed to the sha which the pulley 25 'is pf` ssed by a spring 42' the tension of which may be altered by adjusting the nut 43. p When the belt 24 is shipped ,to the pulley 25 the 'shaft is operated, but there mavbe a slippage as 'between the pulley 25 andthe disk`41 so that the shaft 26 andtherefore the roller are not always turning at the same jspeedas the pulley 25. Near the upper roller 35 Figure 10 there is a rod 44 carried by arms 45 pivoted on the' axis of the roller 35, the arms 45 .having weighted extensions 46 to cause at 48 Figure 4. This brake levei` has a shoe 49 which engages the reeling up roller 38 so that it may either resist its rotation or permit it to turn Jfreely under the action of its drive.- The pulley 25 will ordinarily be operated faster than is required to drive the roller 38 or as fast as the maximum opera? tion of the rollerv may require and if the operation of the roller is resisted there will be a slippage as between the pulley '25 and disk 41 so that the roller will operate at some l speed( less thanx-its drive. The object. is to nd against drive the roller 38 at all times so thatthe fabric will be wound up as -fast Vas it is stitched .butso that there shall be no reat ull on the fabric'. vThe diameter o the abric on' the Iroller 38 increases as it is wound thereon. in the present arrangement so long` as the b'ralre y49 is not pressing on the A i roller 38 the latter will be operated fast enough to take up the fabric as fast as it is stitched. if the peripheral speed ofl the roller 38 (and the fabric wound on it) draws tightlyk on the fabric the latter is drawn taut and itv acts on therod 44 to lift the arme 45. This pulls up the link 48a and the brake shoe 49 is pressed against the roller 88 the presroller 38 is thus decreased vthe roller 38 is thrown When this condition exists the operator may incassi sure depending upon the degree-e of tautness" ci the fabric. The bralre shoe `will retard the roller 38 so that the disk 4l slips in relation to the pulley 25. 'lhe speed oi the automatically but the sewing machine continues as before. lf at any time the` roller 38 should not take up fabric as tast as it is stitched the fabric will become slack, allowing; the rod 44 to move down and this Will release the pressure of the brake shoe'on the roller 38. The latrter will theno crate faster and taire up the slacht in the a ric. There is thus an auto-- matic resiliation of the feelin up device.

The pulley 25 Figure 'l has a second groove 50 and, a belt 5l. engaging 'in this groove operates on a pulley 52 to drive the roller 35 over which the fabric passes betore it is Wound on the take up roller 38. The belt @il which operates to turn the shaft 26 when engaging the pulley 25 is adapted to be shifted to the .lo-ose pulley 40 when ever the shaft 26 is to be thrown out ol' operation and this is done through a shifting lever 53 pivote/d at 54: and onerdfe'l through link 55. The linli 55 is ulcrunied above to one arm of a bell crank lever 56 igure 6 which rois on a pin 57 near the bench 2. To 'the other arm ci this hell cranlr lever there is tulcruxned a linlr 58 which has its Vother end fulcruined to an arno 59 lined on a short 60 journaled in the bracket Si et the rear of the 1machine haine. rlfhere is another erin '82 to this shaft 60 and the link 63 tulcrumed to this and `ertending forward has its other end ulcruined to the starting lever Gel. The latter is lub cram-ed at 65 in front of the machine and at its upper end it is provided with an operating handle 66. lhis controllinf or setting lever 64 is adapted to set the whole mechanism into condition for operation and to start the machine, as will be apparent in the subsequent description, and when it is pulled forward for this purpose the shaft 60 is rocked so that the arm 59 operates through the link 58 to roch: the bell crank lever 56. This, inturn, pulls up on the linlr 55, roclrs the lever 53 and shifts the belt 24 from the loose pulley e() to the clutch pulley 25 and the roller 38 is then in operation. lf the set-ting lever is released, so that it moves back to the position shown in Figure the above operations are reversed and the belt 2% is shifted to the loose pulley d() so that out of operation.

draw hack the fabric through the folder 3ft in order to start the stitching operation on the fabric Where the last stitch was made previous to the stopping of the machine. The roller '38 being then not driven, may

- be reversed when the fabric is pulled bach.

The hand or setting lever 64 above'retQoperates to throw in or out the edge, readily ltions Without omitting certain features that,

clutch olthe machine to set the latter into or out of operation. The cam lever SS rock ing on the 'ulcrurn 69 has a cain 70 which is adapted to press the ordinary clutch 7l of the sewing machine so that the pulley l() Will operate the machine. The other arm T2 of this cam lever has a pin 73, on which` the spring 'le acts to rock the cam lever 68 and thus releaseJ the clutch 7l of the inachine. The pin T3 is engaged by an arm lxed to the shaft 60 which latter, as above stated, is rocked by the setting lever 64. lllhen the shaft 60 is rocked by the to"\vard movement of the setting lever 64C, the arm T5 acting on the pin 73 moves the cam lever 68 to throw in the Clutch 7l. 1Whenever the setting lever Sil is released it is thrown back by the action of the spring 74. which open etes the cana. lever 68,

lfVhen the fabric is threaded into the inachine for the stitching of the iirst edge it will usually be allowed to fall from the roller 38 Without being Wound upon this roller as it must be returned to the front or' the machine to be led tl'xrough again for the stitching of .the opposite edge.' When the latter is being stitched the fabric may he automatically Woundl up on' the roller 38 and then the latter may be removed, 'with the fabric on it, and thus conveyed to operators who perform other operations onuthe fabric. and empty roller .may be substituted in its place. The fabric aiterleaving the aumatic machine is thus easily handled.

The present machine is 'substantiall tomatic in its operation. has heen started throughthe machine and the needle threaded, Ythe operator merely pulls forward the setting lever 64 until it is engaged and held byithe latch 93. This sets the sewing machine into operation and it sets the automatic winding device into condition for operation. lf the fabric .is being Wound up on the roller 381i; is Wound at substantially uniform tension and this ten-` sion may be regulated by adjusting the nut so that 'the pressure of the spring 42 will cause the nulle 25 to clutch the disk 41 with more or ess rriction. Whenithe fabric is drawn too rapidly by the roller 38 the latter is regulated automatically so that the fabric is wound up as fast as it is stitched but it is not pulled With too great force by the reeling roller.

lt will thus he seen that the present invention provides a simple and practical. apperatus 'of the above general character Well adapted to accomplish among others all of the objects hereinafter set forth.

Without further analysis, will so fully reveal the gist of the invention that others can, by applying current knowladapt it for various applicallilien one roller is removed another y Once the 'abrio f the foregoing l y means for winding up Vth'elstri including a roller, a slip clutc for operi.:-

' vating said Arollerfa'nd a brake {controlled byf the strip of fabricfor resisting the operf '-15 Yincluding a roller, drivingmeans for saidand, therefore, suchadaptations should and-y are intended to be-comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalency of the followingclaims@ f Iclaimff 1. The.l combination of a sewing machine adapted to stitch( a 4strip of jfabrie and to' 'changegthespeed of operation-of 'the rollerfor the purpose set forth. r c 2.*'The combinati'nof-a sewing.manh1ne' adaptedr to. stitch "a strip v of fabric pand' means for ywinding np the stripof fabric,

' .r, ol le1 a slip. clutch device interposed. be

tween :said driving means and s aid roller and' a'brake controlled by lthe l1strip o f fabric for resistingthe operation of saidroller to modify' the speed of o eration of said roller for the Vpurpose set Orth.'

'3. The-combination of a sewing machineadapted '-to. stitch a strip` of fabric, and

vmeans for winding up the strip of fabric, vincluding a roller` a slip clutch forj operating said roller, a'brake 'for retarding the operation of the roller and means controlled by the strip of fabric for controlling the o p- 'eration of said brake, for the purpose set forth.

\ 4. The combination of a sewing machine adapted to stitch a strip of fabric and means for windingup the strip of fabric,

'I y including a roller, a slip clutch foro erat# 40 ing said roller, a brake for frictional y resi'sting the operating of .said roller by its operating means and means resting against the strip of fabric and adapted to control 'said brake for the purpose 5. The combination ofva sewing machine adapted to rstitch a strip of fabric, means for winding up the strip of fabric., including a roller, resistable means for operat-v ing said roller, means for resisting the op'- eration of said roller by its operating 'meansfa guide roller for the strip of fabric interposed between the stitching mechanism and the winding up means, and means resting on the fabric between the stitching,`

mechanism and said guide roller and adapt- `ed-to control saidresisting means. 6. The combination of a sewing machine adapted to stitch a strip. of 'fabric and means for winding u the strip of fabric,v

including a roller, a s ip clutch for operating said roller, means for adjusting the slip clutch to modify its operating force on said roller and a brake vcontrolled by the lstrip of fabric for resisting the operation of of fabric,

said -ioller' -by itsbperating.: means for the purpose setl forth.

7. The combination of .a sewing machine .means for winding. up the'strip of fabric, including, aroller, driving means for said roller, a clutch ldevice .interposed between said driving means Iand said roller,a spring device for adjusting the clutch device and 4I n'eans controlledby-the strip of fabric for -resisting the operation 4of the roller to -modi- 'fy thepeel. ofopertion thereof for. the ,purpose setforth. r

4"means for winding fup' the strip. of fabric,

ping the. sewing machine and adapted 'to release said roller driving means to the stripof fabric to be drawn backwards. '9. `Thecombination .of a sewing-machine adapted'to stitch a 'strip of fabric, means' adapted to stitcha vstrip. 'of fabric and' v8. `The combination 'of asewing machine .ationlof Vsaid roller-by its, operating means `adap ted to stitch-a strip. of fabric fand' for winding upthestrip of fabric., includ' g in, a roller, drivin means'lfor said roller including a belt an afast pulley for 'oper-- Aating the roller, a loose pulley to which said belt is adapted to be shifted, means.. controlledA by the strip of fabric for modifying the ac ti'onof said driving' means on the roller, la starting and' stopping devicegfoiadapted to ship said belt to said loose pulle chine is started. v

10. The combination with a sewing :ma:q chine, of a starting and stopping-lever and a latch for holding the same, a lWindingup roller and means for operating. it -towind up the-strip of fabric stitched by' themachine, said winding u roller being. adapted a roller, means frictionally associated there! with for driving said roller, and means controlled by the tension ofthe fabric after being stitched for increasing and decreasing the rate of rotation of the roller upon which the fabric is being wound to maintain the fabric at substantially uniform tension.

12. In combination with an automatic the sewing machine vand a 'belt shifter 4100 when the machine is stopped and to reshi it to said fast pulley when the sewing manaoaeae v roller means for delivering a strip of fabric to the sewing machine prior to its being stitched, and means for winding the strip of fabric after being stitched, comprising' a-roller, means frictionally associated therewith for driving said roller, and means conv trolled by the tension ofthe fabric afte?` being stitched for varying the rate of rotation of the roller upon Which thev fabric is being Wound, said last means including a brake actuated by an increase in tension on' the fabric, 4

13. ln combination, with an automatic sewing machine of the character set forth, roller means for feeding a. strip of fabric to the machine to be stitched, and roller' means for Winding the strip of fabric after the samelias been stitched, said latter means including a roller, a driving element fric` tionally connected therewith and means con trolled by the tension of the fabric after being stitched for increasing and decreasing the relative rate of movement of the Wincling roller with respect to the driving element therefor. whereby an increase in tension on the fabric Will cause a decrease in the 'relative rotation of the Winding` roller and vice versa. i,

14. In combination, With an automatic sewing machine of the character set forth, roller means for feeding a strip of fabric to the machine to be stitched, and roller means for winding the strip of fabric after the same has been stitched, said latter means including roller, a driving element frictionally connected therewith.` and means controlled by the tension of the fabric after being stitched for increasing and decreasing the relative rate of movement of the Winding roller with respect to the driving element therefor, whereby an increase in tension on the fabric will cause a decrease in the relative rotationv of the winding roller and vice versa, and means associated with said first roller means for-stopping the machine if the supply of fabric fails. v

15. In combination, with an automatic sewing machine of the character set forth, a movable gate at the front of the machine over which a strip of fabric is adapted to be guided to the stitching means, and a Winding means at thel opposite side of the machine upon which lthe stitched fabric is adapted to be Wound, said Winding means y including a roller and operating means, a

slip clutch for operating said roller, and a brake controlled by the strip of fabric for resisting the operation of said roller by its v operating means to change the speed of peripheral rotation of said roller.

1G. In combination with an automatic sewing machine of the character set forth, a movable gate at the front of the machine over which a strip of fabric is adapted to -be guided to 'the stitching means, and a Winding means at the opposite side of the machine upon which the stitched fabric is adapted to be Wound, said winding means including a roller and operating means, a slip clutch for operatingv said roller and a brake controlledby the strip cf fabric for resisting the operation of said 'roller by its operating ireans tochange the speed of peripheral rotation of said roller, and means associated with said gate for disconnecting said roller from its operating means if the supply of fabric fails.

,17, ln combination With an automatic sewing machine'of the character set forth, a movable gate at one side of the machine, roller means forguiding a strip of fabric thereover toI the machine to be stitched, mit er means at the opposite side of the me@ chine upon which the stitched strip is adapted to be Wound, said roller means including a loosely mounted roller, a frictional drive for said roller including a fast and loose pulley. a beltshifter, means for varying the peripheral speed of the Winding roller in accordance With the tension exerted upon the stitched strip of fabric, and means actuated from the gate for shifting a driving belt from the fast to the loose pulley.

18. In combination with 'an automatic sewing machine of the character set forth, a movable gate at one side of the machine, roller means for guiding a strip of fabric thereover .to the machine to be stitched, roller means at the opposite side of the machine upon which the stitched strip is adaptedv to be Wound, said roller means includ'ing a loosely mounted roller, a frietional drive for said roller including a fast and loose pulley, a belt shifter, means for varying the peripheral speed of the Winding rol- `ler in accordance With the tensien exerted day of July, 1918.

JUHN BSTN. 

